Third suspect from wanted list surrenders to authorities

AMMAN — Police on Tuesday announced that a third suspect, part of a group of men who are wanted on alleged drug trafficking and smuggling, turned himself in to the authorities earlier today.

The suspect, named by police as Saoud Ghayiath, was one of eight men featured in a wanted list by the Public Security Directorate (PSD) on January 25, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

“The 35-year-old suspect was tied to a regional gang that specialised in drug trafficking and smuggling in the Ghayiath area and was classified as armed and extremely dangerous,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

The police official added that “the suspect’s decision to turn himself in was the result of extensive search and investigations by the authorities that forced him to feel trapped with nowhere to hide”.

The suspect is wanted in eight cases related to exporting and trafficking illegal narcotics in cooperation with international and regional gangs, according to a statement by the PSD.

Ghayiath, who has two 15-year sentences against him, is also wanted on charges of firing live ammunition and forming evil groups, the PSD statement added.

The suspect was referred to the State Security Court prosecutor for questioning and indictment. 

Sartawi stressed that investigations are ongoing and “we will continue to hunt the rest of the wanted suspects”. 

Saoud Ghayiath was the third wanted suspect arrested since police published a wanted persons' list in January.

On February 29, police announced the arrest of one of the eight wanted suspects who police described as armed and dangerous criminals.

The second suspect was arrested on April 3 in a security raid by special forces in a raid in the Manshiet Ghayiath area in Ruwaished.

Security experts had told The Jordan Times recently that publishing photos and names of wanted alleged drug dealers was a message that the Kingdom is serious about combating illegal narcotics smuggling through its borders.

The wanted suspects, who have multiple State Security Court convictions in absentia against them, were described by police as very active, armed and extremely dangerous, according to police officials.

The suspects are all hiding near the desert borders and “pose threats to the national security and stability”.

The PSD has warned against aiding, abetting, or dealing with these dangerous wanted suspects and called on the public to cooperate with the security authorities and report any information about them and their criminal activities.